Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) bought this Head tennis racket in 1975 and used it in competitions including Wimbledon and the Davis Cup. When he began his career in 1955, he was challenged by racial prejudice. But the young man from Richmond. Virginia, broke down these barriers, becoming a Grand Slam tournament winner and the U.S. Davis Cup team captain. Ashe's premature death from complications caused by AIDS, contracted through a blood transfusion, helped to educate the public about the disease's threat.

Use this Investigation Sheet to guide students through describing the object and analyzing its meaning.